To receive federal disaster funding, residents must apply either online at www.fema.gov or call (800) 621-FEMA. Disaster assistance covers only basic needs and will not compensate for the entire loss. Some disaster aid does not have to be paid back, while other help may be in low-interest loans.

Flooding that has wreaked havoc on homeowners and businesses in the region might also have washed out a popular music festival that was on the verge of becoming a summertime staple.

The Taste of Summer festival faces an uncertain future after torrential rains spoiled the event June 4 to 8 and left organizers awash in financial problems.

“It was horrible,�? said Teri Adlam, manager of the Waukesha County Exposition Center, site of the outdoor festival.

Recurring downpours forced the cancellation of several performances, and tornado threats prompted officials to order the festival grounds cleared on three occasions.

Adlam said attendance probably was less than 20,000, compared with 90,000 last year.

“I’ve never seen an event get hammered like that,�? she said. “Every single day just got uglier and uglier.�?

One vendor still is waiting to get paid for services at the festival. Another said checks from Taste of Summer had bounced.

Festival organizer Gary Marquardt, a Waukesha business owner, declined to discuss the situation, although he said his organization had suffered a significant setback.

“It’s not good,�? he said.

RiverFest replacement

Started four years ago, Taste of Summer was conceived as a replacement for RiverFest, an outdoor music festival that folded after 10 years in Waukesha.

Although it began modestly, Taste of Summer quickly grew in popularity, with the attendance of 90,000 in 2007 easily surpassing that of RiverFest in its best year.

“It was on the right track,�? said John Mangold, a Brookfield booking agent for musical acts. “And this was a paramount year.�?

Adlam and others said that if Taste of Summer had continued its successful run another year or two, it could have established itself as one of the premier summer events in the region.

Sensing that opportunity, organizers enlisted more than 30 food vendors and other merchandisers, as well as carnival rides, a laser light show, special events and musical performers including former Partridge Family personality David Cassidy.

“We had some very hopeful expectations,�? festival spokesman Gary Rosenberg said. “This year was poised to be a banner year.�?

Instead, the inclement weather kept crowds away and left such daunting financial issues that the festival’s future is in question.

The festival pays $33,000 yearly to rent the county-owned center. The county also is guaranteed 10% of food sales and 25% of beverage sales.

Adlam said the county will be paid, but she also said she believes Marquardt is looking for outside investors to help pay the rest of the bills.

Asked whether Taste of Summer will return next summer, Adlam said, “I don’t know how he’s going to do it.�?

Rosenberg said the full impact of the financial setback would not be known for several weeks. He added that he could not address whether vendors still were waiting to be paid.

Bounced checks

Neil Hawes, a New Berlin booking agent for several musical acts, said more than $10,000 in checks issued for his performers bounced.

In fact, he said, Marquardt called to warn that the checks were going to bounce because of the festival’s sudden financial problems.

Hawes credited Marquardt with being honest about the situation, saying that he believes the festival organizer will make good on his debts.

Asked about the festival’s future, Hawes said: “That remains to be seen. It’d be tough.�?

Mangold, who said his musical acts were waiting to get paid, said Marquardt assured him that outside investors were being solicited.

Mangold said he hoped new investors would allow the festival to return next year.

“I think the whole community would like it to be back,�? he said. “Somehow, some way, somebody should step up.�?

About Scott Williams

I was born in Chicago and currently live in West Allis. I have been a newspaper reporter for 25 years, including the past eight years at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Before Milwaukee, I worked in Peoria, Ill., Blue Springs, Mo., Dallas, Texas, and Rockford, Ill. (in that order). I am married and have two kids.